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Mary Madeline "Tootie" Bauer
SOUTH BEND -- Mary Madeline “Tootie” Bauer, 86, of South Bend, passed away Thursday May
20, 2010, at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka.
She was born July 18, 1923, in Monterey, to the late William and Ernestine (Rock) Decker.
Dec. 29, 1945, as Mary M. Decker, she married
Bernard F. Bauer, who survives.
Along with her loving husband of 64 years, she is survived by: her daughters, Pam (Walt)
Rearick of Chester-ton, and Rita (Dennis) Large of Plymouth; her son, Jeff (Lois) Bauer of South
Bend; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and by two sisters, Judi (Dick) Minniear of
Muncie, and Carol (Dick) Stoneburner of Plymouth.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Rita Gottlick and Joanne Wagner; and two brothers,
Robert and Jim Decker.
Mary loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved gardening
and had a special touch with roses.
Many of her most cherished times involved being with her daughters, her son, her loving sister
Judi, and her best friend Bonnie (Bill) Bauer. She also enjoyed spending her weekends with
Bernie at Gravel Lake in Michigan with many good friends.
Mrs. Bauer was a Registered Nurse at Memorial Hospital in South Bend for 30 years. She was a
parishioner of Holy Cross Catholic Church.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 24, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home,
3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, where a parish Rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Holy Cross Church, with
burial to follow in St. Anne’s cemetery, Monterey.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Liver Foundation at www.liverfoundation.org.
Frederick N. Miller
MENTONE -- Frederick N. Miller, 50, of 5841 S. 1000 W., Mentone, died at 9:15 a.m. Thursday,
May 20, at his residence.
He was born Feb. 14, 1960 in Plymouth, to Lloyd D. and Barbara S. (Wallen) Miller. Fred
graduated from Triton High School in 1979 and worked for McDonald Douglas in Phoenix, Ariz.
Fred had many hobbies. He enjoyed playing pool, fishing, camping, riding horses, playing Rook,
drawing, and taking care of the yard.
He is survived by his parents, Lloyd and Barbara Miller of Mentone; three sisters: Laudice and
husband Mike Meinert of Bourbon, Evelyn and husband Francis Rickel Jr. of Palestine Lake,
Ind., and Bobbie and husband Mike Roszak of Palestine, Ind.; four brothers: Lowell and wife
Cami Miller of Palestine, Lloyd D. Jr. and wife Betty Miller of Bourbon, William J. and wife Stacey
Miller of Warsaw, Ind., and Kenneth L. Miller and fiancee Kelly Caudill of Silver Lake, Ind.; and
several aunts, cousins, great-aunts and great-uncles.
He was a beloved son, brother, uncle, and great uncle. He was preceded in death by a brother,
Gene Allen, in 1957.
Private family services will be held at a later date.
Services are entrusted to King Memorial Home, 101 N. Tucker St., Mentone.
Ann Marie Smitson
NDIANAPOLIS -- Ann Marie Smitson passed away peacefully at home May 20, 2010 at the age
of 77. After a long illness, she is now joyfully breathing easy in God’s presence.
Born May 19, 1933 in Indianapolis, she was the daughter of the late John E. Jones and Ladena
Foster Jones, and grew up in Wilmette, Ill., Cicero, Ind. and Tipton, Ind.
Ann is survived by her loyal husband of 55 years, Harrison A. Smitson, Jr.; her beloved sons
and daughters-in-law, R. David (Ellen), Harrison III (Karyn) and John R. (Laura); and her
wonderful grandchildren: Robert (Kaily), Christopher, Mary, Zachary, Casey, Tyler, Gretchen,
Eric, Luda and Chad.
Ann graduated from Tipton High School where she was a member of student council, the honor
society and the band (oboe). She was also a drum majorette and cheerleader.
Most importantly, it was there she began dating Hal. The two went on to graduate from Purdue
University in 1955. Ann earned a B.S./Home Economics degree with honors.
She was an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She was awarded Gold Pepper and
Alpha Lambda Delta honoraries. Her many activities included: Debras Staff, Theta Sigma Phi,
Omicron Nu, Kappa Delta Pi, V.C. Meredith Club, Associated Women Students, Sportswomen and WAA.
Ann and Hal settled in Norfolk, Va. after being married
in 1955. Ann was a sixth grade teacher
and Hal was stationed in the Navy. After a few years spent in Pittsburgh, Penn. and Cleveland,
Ohio they moved to Columbus, Ind. where she was mother to the three boys; an elder and
deacon at North Christian Church; president of the Service League; and president of Tri Kappa.
Ann was a partner in a catering business and enjoyed golf, tennis, bridge and volunteering at
school.
The boys were out of the nest when Ann and Hal moved to Indianapolis. This brought new
opportunities. A love of art history steered her toward a vocation dear to her heart -- serving as
a docent at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. In Indy, Ann was also a member of PEO and
Director of Young Audiences.
Ann had a deep love for Culver, Ind. and the Culver Military Academy and its summer schools.
She and Hal spent every summer at Culver’s Lake Maxinkuckee and were quite generous to
include the whole family whenever possible.
In later years winters were spent near Carefree, Ariz. enjoying the sunshine and Arizona beauty.
Ann was a woman of action: a golfer, a world traveler, a tennis player and an adventurer. She
rode a mule down the Grand Canyon and also braved a week whitewater rafting on the Colorado
River later in life. At home she was a woman of talent: a gourmet cook, an expert seamstress
and knitter, a voracious mystery novel reader and a stylish party hostess. She was determined,
with a flair for the dramatic.
Ann was intelligent, creative, and generous with her time and gifts. She was caring, funny, and
family-oriented. Most of all, she was truly loved and will be greatly missed.
Family and friends will gather from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 23 at Leppert Mortuary, Nora
chapel, Indianapolis.
A funeral service for Ann will be held at Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis Monday,
May 24 at 11 a.m.
Memorials may be made to Culver Educational Foundation or Second Presbyterian Church.
Wayne Ellison Ross
WALKERTON -- Wayne Ellison Ross, 88, a lifetime area farmer and resident of West First
Road, Walkerton, died of natural causes in the Pilgrim Manor Care Center, Plymouth, at 8:50
p.m. Friday, May 21, 2010.
He was born Sept. 6, 1921, at home on the Walkerton family farm, the son of Chauncy and Mary
Gertrude (Wood) Ross. Wayne was a graduate of Tyner High School.
Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 1941, in the Donaldson home of his in-laws Jesse and Ruth Burkholder,
Wayne and Lucille were married
. Together they raised five children on the family farm.
Lucille preceded him in death Dec. 2, 2004.
In addition to farming, Wayne had worked at Studebaker and as a union member ironworker.
Wayne was a longtime member of the Plymouth Wesleyan Church.
Surviving are three daughters, a son, daughter-in-law, 14 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
His daughters are: Marilyn Skiles of Bloomington; Judi Macy of Ft. Myers, Fla. and Myra and
Mike Farmer of Sweetser, Ind. His son is Vern (and Lynn) Ross; daughter-in-law, Jana Ross, (all
of Plymouth); and his brother, Lowell Ross.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a son, Jack Ross; a grandson, Jonathan
Ross; and three brothers: Paul, Worth, and John Ross.
The family will receive friends Monday, May 24 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Johnson-Danielson
Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 25 at 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home with the Rev.
Scott Bills officiating.
Burial will follow in New Oakhill cemetery, Plymouth.
Memorials in Wayne’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Ralph D. Wringer
PLYMOUTH -- Ralph D. Wringer, 68, Plymouth, died Monday, May 24, 2010 at Elkhart Hospice House.
He is survived by his daughter, Edra (Clay) Waterman of Plainfield; a son, Brian (Marjorie)
Wringer of Indianapolis; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a brother, Jerry (Shirley)
Wringer of Nappanee; and a sister, Marilyn (David) Pigors of Hendersonville, N.C.
Cremation has taken place.
A memorial gathering will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 28 at Christos’ Banquet
Center, 830 Lincolnway East, Plymouth.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Elkhart.
Elkhart Cremation Services was entrusted with arrangements.
Carmella Lether Jackson
ROCHESTER -- Carmella Lether Jackson, 53, of Rochester, died at 2:50 a.m. Tuesday, May
25, 2010 at Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis.
She is survived by a daughter, Nicole “Sunshine” Hoyt Phillips of Clintwood, Va.; sons, Eric Hoyt
of Pound, Va., and Jason Phillips of Paragould, Ariz.; her mother, Bureatta Dawkins of Quincy,
Fla.; a sister, Debra Kim Senft of Emporia, Kan.; brothers: Alaric Vince Mullins of Crawfordsville,
Fla., Rodney Fulton Mullins of Middlesboro, Ky., Terry Lee Dawkins of Quincy, Fla., and Jeffrey
Len Dawkins of Quincy, Fla.; and five grandchildren.
Visitation will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, May 28, at Good Family Funeral Home, 1200
W. 18th St., Rochester.
Funeral services will take place at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Burial will follow at Plainview cemetery, Macy, Ind.
Carolyn M. Mahnesmith Balog
SOUTH BEND -- Carolyn M. Mahnesmith Balog, O.D., residing in South Bend, passed away
Wednesday afternoon, May 26, 2010 in her home.
She was born Sept. 6, 1951 in South Bend, a daughter of Carmen D. and Violet Marian (Noe)
Mahnesmith, and has remained a lifelong resident of this community.
She graduated from Washington High School, South Bend, class of 1970; received her Bachelor
of Science degree in Education at Indiana University of South Bend, 1973; and her Doctor of
Optometry degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, 1981.
June 6, 1970 at Stewart Memorial Baptist Church, South Bend, Carolyn was united in marriage
to Daniel C. Balog, who is currently director of bands at Riley High School.
She has served as an optometrist at the Balog Bremen Vision Center since 1981. She was a
caring, compassionate, and loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend. She
also cared greatly for her many patients during the past 29 years.
Along with her loving husband Dan, she is survived by two daughters, Dr. Staci-Marie (David)
Norman, and Dr. Natali Marian (Mark Wenkus) Balog, of South Bend, and three grandchildren:
Riley David Norman, Calla-Marie Norman, and Amelia Marian Wenkus. Also surviving is her
sister, Marilyn Mahnesmith (Dr. Thomas) Johnson of Auburn, Ind., and a brother, Dr. Randolph
C. (Kathy Woodruff) Mahnesmith of Fisherville, Va.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her mother, Violet Mahnesmith Dec. 15, 2008, and her father,
Carmen Mahnesmith July 4, 2009.
Dr. Balog was a member of First Presbyterian Church of South Bend, American Association of
University Women, Indiana Optometric Association, American Optometric Association, North
Central Optometric Society, National Organization of Women, Marshall County Leadership
Association, and Marshall County Red Cross.
Music also played an important role in Carolyn’s life. She played the flute in high school, and was
involved in the All State Band. She was a member of the IUSB Wind Ensemble during college,
and did a tour with the University of Notre Dame Band in 1970. She was member and flutist with
the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, Michiana Community Band, and was instrumental in
organizing the Bremen Community Band.
Services celebrating the life of Dr. Carolyn Balog will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 30, at the Palmer
Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan St., South Bend. Rev. Don Neely will
officiate.
Graveside services and burial will follow at Sweet cemetery, Albion, Ind., at 3 p.m. Sunday. She
will be laid to rest beside her parents.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, and one hour prior to services Sunday
at the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel.
Expressions of sympathy on behalf of Dr. Balog may be offered to the Chibanzi Nursery School,
c/o First Presbyterian Church, 333 West Colfax Street, South Bend, IN, 46601, or to The Center
for Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN, 46637.
Glen E. Kile
SOUTH BEND -- Glen E. Kile, 78 of Bremen died May 26, 2010 at Memorial Hospital of South Bend.
He is survived by wife Carolyn of Bremen; three daughters, Linda Leonard of East Jordan, Mich.,
Jenny Kile of Crown Point, and Jan (John) Schmidt of Indianapolis; and one son, Brad (Lisa
Soto) Kile of Bremen, two grandchildren, Zachary and Wyatt Schmidt of Indianapolis, one
brother, Wayne Kile of Bloomington and one sister, Barbara Smith.
Visitation is 2 to 6 p.m., Saturday, May 29, with a Fireman’s Memorial Service to begin at 5:30
p.m. at the Mishler Funeral Home in Bremen.
Services are at 2 p.m. at the funeral home Sunday, with Pastor David Sickella officiating.
Burial will be at Bremen cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be given to Bremen Volunteer Fire Dept. or Community Hospital of
Bremen.
